Effect of Moisture on Shape Memory Polyurethane Polymers for Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing.

ABSTRACT: Extrusion-based additive manufacturing (EBAM) or 3D printing is used to produce customized prototyped parts. The majority of the polymers used with EBAM show moisture sensitivity. However, moisture effects become more pronounced in polymers used for critical applications, such as biomedical stents, sensors, and actuators. The effects of moisture on the manufacturing process and the long-term performance of Shape Memory Polyurethane (SMPU) have not been fully investigated in the literature. This study focuses primarily on block-copolymer SMPUs that have two different hard/soft (h/s) segment ratios. It investigates the effect of moisture on the various properties via studying: (i) the effect of moisture trapping within these polymers and the consequences when manufacturing; (ii) and the effe

SUBMITTER: Garces IT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6356422 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature